Mumbai University degree students to get more options, colleges to increase intake this yr

Mumbai city news: Maharashtra approved 16 new colleges, and 193 new divisions for BA, BCom, BSc

There will be more options for students applying this year to degree courses in colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai (MU) .

However, many academicians pointed out the quality of education in self-financed courses has suffered as many professors teaching these courses were appointed temporarily.(HT File Photo)

The state government last year approved 16 new colleges, and 193 new divisions for BA, BCom, BSc and self-financed (not subsidised by grants) courses at existing colleges.

For students, this meant 17,000 more seats for traditional courses last year itself, but many colleges were not able to fill up these new seats as the approval came after the admission process began.

New divisions are being added in existing institutes and new colleges, and the self-financed courses — such as media studies, management — steal a march over traditional BA, BCom and BSc courses. The state approved 42 new BCom (Accounting and Finance) divisions — the highest.

Similarly, intake of other self-financed courses such as BCom (Banking and Insurance), management studies mass media and information technology has also increased. Traditional courses were not neglected either. The state added 63 new divisions of BA, BCom and BSc.

READ: Traditional courses still find favour at suburban colleges

Principals said more students were applying for self-financed courses such management studies and mass media every year as these are specialised and job-oriented. “Self-financed courses have more demand than plain BCom courses, mainly because of specialisation. These courses provide an in-depth knowledge,” said Madhavi Pethe, principal, ML Dahanukar College of Commerce, Vile Parle.

“The self-financed courses were started with an intention of offering a detailed study of subject, but they are now is more inclined towards making students job ready. There were more applications for BMS, so we added one division of the course this year. Another popular and demanding course is BMM, which needs more classes but due to constraint of infrastructure we are unable to do so,” said Rajpal Hande, Mithibai College. However, another city professor said more colleges were applying for the additional intake of self-financed programmes as they earned more through these courses.

“The demand for these courses has been manufactured by superior marketing. Ever since the courses were introduced, the quality is being reduced so a large number of students join them,” said a coordinator from a city college.

Many academicians pointed out the quality of education in self-financed courses has suffered as many professors teaching these courses were appointed temporarily.

“In most cases, these courses are no better than the traditional courses. If more colleges offer these courses and the intake is increased, the colleges will struggle to appoint good teachers. The quality of education will further deteriorate,” said the professor.